$100,000 cash bail for Worcester man in party-goer's asthma death

Thursday

Sep 4, 2014 at 6:00 AMSep 4, 2014 at 1:53 PM

By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — A city man was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty to a manslaughter charge in the death of a Blackstone teen who suffered a severe asthma attack after an altercation last year at a party on Bailey Street.

Michael A. Ventura, 19, formerly of 32 Granite St., was one of three people indicted last month on manslaughter charges in the death of 18-year-old Robert A. Walker of 217 Main St., Blackstone.

Authorities said Mr. Walker was involved in an altercation on the morning of Sept. 1, 2013, at an after-hours birthday party in a Crestwood Arms apartment at 121 Bailey St. Mr. Walker was chased into the woods after being hit in the head with a bottle, stabbed in the buttocks and kicked, according to investigators.

Friends later found him unresponsive in woods next to the apartment complex. Police arrived about 4:45 a.m. and Mr. Walker was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

An autopsy determined that he died as a result of a severe asthma attack "complicated by physical altercation" and that the manner of his death was a homicide, according to prosecutors.

Mr. Ventura, who allegedly struck Mr. Walker with a bottle, was one of three people indicted Aug. 22 on manslaughter charges in his death. Also indicted were Collage Nunez, 19, of 63 Orient St. and John Doe, otherwise known as Gio Paredes, whose identity and address had not been confirmed.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, Mr. Nunez was indicted on charges of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a knife, on Mr. Walker and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on Heath Richardson. John Doe, otherwise known as Gio Paredes, was additionally charged with aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a shod foot, on Mr. Walker.

Mr. Ventura was previously indicted on an aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge in the case.

Accompanied by his lawyer, David L. Larsen, Mr. Ventura pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge at his arraignment Wednesday morning in Worcester Superior Court. Judge Richard T. Tucker set the $100,000 cash bail requested by Assistant District Attorney Joseph Simmons, but did so without prejudice, which will enable Mr. Larsen to seek a bail reduction at a later date.

Mr. Ventura's case was continued to Sept. 24 for a hearing on a defense motion to suppress evidence in the case. Mr. Larsen is seeking to preclude prosecutors from using Mr. Ventura's statements to police as evidence against him at trial.

The defense lawyer contends the statements and Mr. Ventura's waiver of his so-called Miranda rights were not made voluntarily.

In an unsigned affidavit accompanying the motion, Mr. Ventura stated that he was tired, frightened and "hung over" when he spoke to detectives.